Are you a nurse with "alternative" spiritual beliefs?
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If so, have you gotten grief from coworkers or patients because of it? Tell your stories here!!I'm pagan, and I'm pretty low key about it. I have nothing against Jesus. If he existed, I think he must... Read More

Actually, no, pagan means non-Christian earth based spirituality... you might be surprised to find that there are many atheist, agnostic, and even monotheistic pagans (: It's an umbrella term -- while many pagan religions are polytheistic, not all are, and the word pagan does not always or necessarily mean polytheism.

Sorry, Atheist means without belief. Pagan means you have belief. Atheist from the Greek A - without theist- god or gods. Pagan - polytheistic many gods. can't be a pagan atheist. But it's a free county you can call yourself any thing you want.

I am agnostic. I do not believe in religions or specific deities. There are things that are decent and indecent, right and wrong in this world, and I do not need promises of heaven or threats of hell to know the difference or act in accordance with ethics and morality.

I am agnostic. I do not believe in religions or specific deities. There are things that are decent and indecent, right and wrong in this world, and I do not need promises of heaven or threats of hell to know the difference or act in accordance with ethics and morality.

If religion were akin to a chinese food take out menu, I would have one of each. There are so many parts of every religion I find beautiful and meaningful. I am intrigued by religion of all kinds. I think if people strive hard to be kind, have compassion and to listen to others without judgement, it could describe the attributes of many religions. I don't like religion as big business. Making people give coptious amounts of money in return for "salvation". Promising people a cure if they "just pray enough". This is where it gets distasteful to me. As a baptized Episcopalian, who was brought up Baptist, who married a Catholic, who's middle daughter has embraced and converted to Congregational, who's own beliefs are most in tune with the Buddist/Unitarian religions with Jesus, I have just about seen it all. As a nurse, my focus is on what is going to make a patient comfortable and at peace. My beliefs just don't really matter in the scheme of my occupation. I make use of the hospital clergy as needed for a patient. My goal is not to religiously convert/imply. It is my duty to be sure that my patient, should they require/want have their spiritual needs met. And there's clergy who do that for a living.

If religion were akin to a chinese food take out menu, I would have one of each. There are so many parts of every religion I find beautiful and meaningful. I am intrigued by religion of all kinds. I think if people strive hard to be kind, have compassion and to listen to others without judgement, it could describe the attributes of many religions. I don't like religion as big business. Making people give coptious amounts of money in return for "salvation". Promising people a cure if they "just pray enough". This is where it gets distasteful to me. As a baptized Episcopalian, who was brought up Baptist, who married a Catholic, who's middle daughter has embraced and converted to Congregational, who's own beliefs are most in tune with the Buddist/Unitarian religions with Jesus, I have just about seen it all. As a nurse, my focus is on what is going to make a patient comfortable and at peace. My beliefs just don't really matter in the scheme of my occupation. I make use of the hospital clergy as needed for a patient. My goal is not to religiously convert/imply. It is my duty to be sure that my patient, should they require/want have their spiritual needs met. And there's clergy who do that for a living.

I don't characterize any of my beliefs as "alternative." This is because that implies that something else is mandatory or nearly so, at least the way I read it. All of the things I believe have a place in the doctrine and/or practice of your major world religions, but I choose not to belong to any of them. The reason is somewhat of a reaction to childhood trauma and years of abuse. I worked hard within myself, to build my own character, to see people as they are, to have the ability to stand up for myself and others, and for a while, just to have the ability to talk to people. I will not give, even in word, my "soul" to belong to ... a bunch of people who can, and history has shown they will, turn on the weak in a moment's notice. I do willingly share my soul with my husband, but that's about as far as it goes.

So there have been some really interesting conversations at times with patients and their family members. Very pushy christians are always happy to hear there's a lost soul they should be praying for, and I tell them that if they will pray for me to have peace then the patients will all probably get better care. Sometimes I tell folks I am angry at God but I don't hold it against his people. Sometimes we just let sleeping dogs lie and don't discuss it at all, that's what I really prefer. One time a lady asked me, if I am a christian, and I said, omigosh, doesn't it show?? I washed all the black fungus off your mom's dentures and cleaned behind her ears, and did much more than was needed to make her feel comfortable and loved. She hugged me and that was that.

I'm an Atheist, but I don't have a problem with anyone discussing their beliefs as long as it isn't in a preachy way. I cannot stand when someone feels the need to explain how THEIR EXACT belief (or non-belief, preachy Atheists are just as bad) is the only thing that is correct. I actually love learning about different religions if it can be done in a respectful manner.

Everyone in my class was presented with a Gideon's Bible (New Testament and psalms only) as a graduation gift. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but the New Testament means nothing at all to me. I was a little bit offended, as the school is not a Christian school. It's public.

This isn't exactly a violation of church and state. I accepted graciously. But I was a little miffed. What about the Muslims, Jews, Buddists, non-believers, etc? Why assume that everyone in the class needes a Bible? This wasn't really a gift. It was an opportunity for the Gideons to spread their "Word." That's what really bothered me. I don't need their, "Word" thank you very much. I have my own spirituality.

Everyone in my class was presented with a Gideon's Bible (New Testament and psalms only) as a graduation gift. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but the New Testament means nothing at all to me. I was a little bit offended, as the school is not a Christian school. It's public.

This isn't exactly a violation of church and state. I accepted graciously. But I was a little miffed. What about the Muslims, Jews, Buddists, non-believers, etc? Why assume that everyone in the class needes a Bible? This wasn't really a gift. It was an opportunity for the Gideons to spread their "Word." That's what really bothered me. I don't need their, "Word" thank you very much. I have my own spirituality.

Unusual approach on behave of the school to say the least....just saying~